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Last minute networking @ Lastminute.com (#oylb)
A few days ago I received an email informing me about an 'event' for travel bloggers organised by Lastminute.com. I mulled over it for a few days, I wondered if I could I pass myself off as a travel blogger; one look at their list of '50 best for February' perhaps not.
Why the concern?
The 50 listed have blogs with a central theme, Out and about in London, the theatre, and so on. My blog, as you can see is a mish mash of my travel and cultural experiences. However, it's not in my genetic make-up to back away from a challenge.
"Oh you lucky bloggers!"
The Lastminute.com event was held last night (March 24th) at the newly refurbished and located Planet Hollywood in Haymarket. At the entrance I met Karen Bryant of europealacarte, Karen and I met on a press trip to Croatia last year.
On entering I was stopped by a young lady taking down attendee details, "Name of blog? she asked pen poised ... "uhm ah," I said "just put Diverse Traveller." I then collected my raffle ticket and walked into a small room full of people talking and drinking (free food and drink promised).
Shortly after 8pm, the presentations started, firstly a welcome and an explanation of the night by the Lastminute.com team ...
... then the Future Foundation 'pitched' trend research, commissioned by Lastminute.com, to identify the leisure time trends over the next 20 years. I say pitch as it would have been nice to have had a flavour of the most interesting results, but then again perhaps that's the researcher in me. That said we were told it would be available free on the Lastminute.com blog(?) .
Presentations done, I got down to some serious networking, determined to speak with many of the women in the room.
Working the room I soon found others shared my initial concerns about the content of my blog. Many of the women I spoke to had a theme for their blog, but wrote quite widely about it, anything and everything that interested them. A few said they preferred it that way otherwise they would get bored and give up. Plus like me, pre-recession, many had a day job running their blog part-time, e.g lawyers, academics and software engineering.
There was plenty to eat, mini burgers, chicken wings, and other appetising finger food. Sadly I couldn't convince my mind to satisfy my belly, having had a large late lunch, so the food passed me by.
Some of the women I spoke to ...
- Maria Iliescu of Gorgeoux.com (or Cheeky Cheeky)
- Alexandra Sheppard
- Suke Driver who writes for The Londonist
- Stephanie Sadler
- Viviana Rulio of The Lean Times
Exchanging business cards, it seems to me that the blogging community is in love with Moo mini business cards, and their accessories. On receiving one I was told the owner loved them because, " you can personalise them and they are very cheap."
Time flew and I was having fun, but at 9.45pm it was time to leave, but not before getting the promised goodie bag as I didn't win any of the raffle prizes. The goodies were a pink, Lastminute.com colour, yoga mat or large umbrella, a Lastminute.com notebook and a "Time Out" Weekend Breaks in Great Britain and Ireland (Time Out Guides)
. Lucky me, with a wink and a smile the guy handing out the goody bags gave me a yoga mat and an umbrella.
This was my first blogging event, but definitely not my last. I look forward to visiting many of the blogs written by the people I met at this event and who knows perhaps working with a few.
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